4 Minute Devotions: Running on Empty

I was reading a pastor’s blog yesterday which saddened me. He’s retired and after many years of serving the Church, he just doesn’t feel like going back on Sundays. He’s tired of the old liturgical ways and of Christ being hijacked by evangelical Christians. He feels more comfortable with Islamic and other world religion’s views of Jesus.

I think he’s reaping what he sowed. He’s on the progressive side of theology and has ended up with an empty heart. He’ll protest that the Church has gone to the dogs and that Bible thumping believers are just spiritual thugs, but those are just smokescreens for his unhappiness. He chose the wrong path long ago and he’s ended up in a dead end. I feel sorry for him and wish that he could turn his heart back over to Jesus, the Christ of the Gospels and the King of Good News.

Our faith is not a plaything or leisure pursuit. What we put into it, is exactly what we’ll get out of it. If we kick against the goads, as Jesus would put it, or reject His true words, we end up creating narcissistic gospels that reflect our own feelings, opinions, and ideas which, in the end, leave us spiritually bankrupt, isolated, and bitter.

Luke 12:31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

If, however, we come to the New Testament Gospels as seekers looking to become servants of God, and if we take Christ’s words as being true, then we spiritually flourish through the riches of His grace and find ourselves attached to the real community of faith. At the end of our lives, instead of feeling bitter, we will know the eternal comfort of God and the everlasting joy of Christ. That’s what that retired pastor could have received, but instead of being fed by Jesus, he sadly chose to feed himself until there’s nothing left.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive us when we take You for granted or seek to displace You in our hearts with our own ways and words. Keep us from creating our own gospels and instead, teach us to learn from Yours. Be with us and bless us throughout the days of our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Clearing the Way

God helps us to overcome obstacles and can clear the way ahead in our lives, so that we may serve Him fully and faithfully. A short reflection on Isaiah 57 v 14.

Podcast version here

They’ve been working on the main road next to my subdivision for over three years and they still haven’t finished it. It’s only about a mile long, but there are some nasty bends to negotiate, so the contractors are trying to straighten them out. They also had to widen the road for the amount of extra traffic, so that involved moving a lot of houses back about twenty yards from the original road. I don’t know when they will finish it, but one day it will be completed and there will be no more traffic cones, gravel or obstacles to drive through. It will be a joyous day for the commuters in my area when it is all completed.

Our church is also going through some major improvements and renovations. We’re just getting started with a long process of modernizing the church for the 21st century. It will take a while to complete and there will be some obstacles in the way ahead, but once everything is completed, the church will be ready for the next generation of ministers, leaders, and members to carry on Christ’s work in this community. It will also be a joyous day when the scheduled work is actually completed.

Isaiah 57:14 And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."

I like the idea of God building up His people and removing all obstacles in their way. That gives me a lot of hope in these troubling times when the Christian Church appears to be losing ground and dividing itself. The cultural obstacles and the obstinate rocks of division will one day be removed by God and Christ’s work will be completed. That will be a joyous occasion when all of God’s people can freely proclaim Christ as their King and pledge their total allegiance to Him as their Lord.

Perhaps you are currently experiencing some obstacles in your own life. They might arise through illness or worry, trouble or heartbreak, disappointment or loneliness. Know this: God has enough power to remove those obstacles that are in the way of enabling you to fulfill your life for Him. One day the road will be clear and you will move on freely, knowing that God is up ahead of you, preparing the way.

Prayer: Lord God, there are obstacles in all of our lives that prevent us from joyously experiencing life as it is meant to be. Whether those obstacles are self-created, made by others, or caused through troubling circumstances, we pray that You will graciously remove them from our lives. Be with us now and prepare the way ahead. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him some feedback on this devotional, send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Godly Guidance in Uncertain Times

I love looking at maps. If you want to keep me occupied and quiet for a while, you just have to give me a map and I will pore over it for ages. I love to look at the topography of an area or find interesting back roads to places I want to visit. Whenever I’m driving any distance by myself, I usually travel along the B routes, so that I can pass through some small towns and sight-see.

Podcast version here

I guess I learned my map skills in the Boy Scouts. I remember one year that I had to hike twelve miles using my map and compass in order to be awarded an Orienteering badge. I was dropped off at a predetermined location early in the morning, and was given 8 hours to complete the journey. I had to follow map co-ordinates and describe what I found at different locations. It was a wonderful experience and I passed with flying colors. Orienteering is a skill that I thankfully still have, although there have been occasions when I’ve had to stop at a gas station to pick up a new map, as well as ask for local directions.

Bible Verse of the Day

Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

I also love reading the book of Isaiah, for the ancient prophet says many things that touch my soul. He belonged to a wandering people who, in his time, were exiled in a foreign land. The fact that Isaiah emphasized to them that God would guide them always, was a source of great encouragement for his people. They thought that they were isolated and separated from God; Isaiah reassured them that God had never let them out of His sight, and that He was still in control of their destiny.

We all need to hear words like that throughout our lives. When we go through times of trouble and fear, uncertainty and doubt, Isaiah can speak to us across the ages to reassure us that God will guide us, even through the roughest patches in our lives. We may not know or understand what is happening, but God always knows the way ahead, so we can depend upon Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Guiding Light and the Holy One who shows us the path to God. Lead us day by day and help us to confidently place our lives and times in Your Sacred Hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

(After writing this post, I was sent an email from a blogger who directed me to this video of a singer from Tennessee called Candy Coburn. The song is entitled "Hard Times."

Click here to watch and listen to the video or put the following in your browser

http://www.famecast.com/contest/stage_top10.php?stage_id=47&round_id=222&artist_id=1648